Ryanair to cut 3,000 jobs, close bases in Europe

Budget airline Ryanair is drawing up plans to cut as many as 3,000 jobs and close bases in Europe, as the airline addresses the massive downturn in business caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Euronews reports that the airline accusing European governments of unfairly bailing out major competitors, the budget airline announced a restructuring programme on Friday that includes plans for unpaid leave and pay cuts of as much as 20%.

In a company statement sent to Euronews, the airline says the plans will be “subject to consultations”, and “may result in the loss of up to 3,000 mainly pilot and cabin crew jobs… and the closure of a number of aircraft bases across Europe until traffic recovers”. Office staff would also be affected, the company added.

Ryanair blames the “expected significant decline” in air traffic this year, and competition “distorted” by what it claims is €30 billion in “selective State Aid ‘doping’ for flag carriers” in Europe.

Euronews